Cold Weather Livin'

I suppose people from up-north would laugh at the notion that Houston has cold winters, but there's been some "cold-enough" spells here this winter.

Being in the Dolphin this past December and January has been our first experience living in an RV in temperatures below 50°F; to be honest, it's been less than ideal. The Dolphin has several cold spots, but research shows this is common in RVs. In fact, it seems the Dolphin may be better than some motor homes in this regard. We've been using the heat pump when the outside temperature is above 45°F, and running the furnace in colder weather. A ceramic heater fan also helps keep us comfortable.

One pleasant surprise has been that the furnace does not burn as much LP as we anticipated. We've gone through less than 8 pounds of propane since we arrived in Houston almost three months ago!

To avoid problems with water freezing in our tanks and drain lines, we use a 75W drop light in the water distribution compartment. The bulb generates enough heat to keep the bay at around 40°F when the outside temp is around 30°F.

The Honda Has New Shoes

It's been raining all week here in Houston, and I've been slip-sliding the car around on these oily roads. Not good.

So we made an appointment at Discount Tire to have four new tires installed. I  knew we would have to put new tires on the car when we bought it and so this was not out of the blue.

We ended up getting Arizonian Silver Edition tires, which I never heard of before. They come with a 65K mile tread warranty, are well-reviewed, and were $140 cheaper than a set of Michelins. I've been driving on them for three days and they're fine.

No more slip-sliding!

Our Digs in Houston, TX

We arrived at Fallbrook RV Resort in Houston on 9 November at around 7:30PM. Even on a Sunday evening, the city traffic was heavy, and it was not a pleasant drive in the rain. This RV park is on the north side of Houston, a couple miles south of Beltway 8 and a few miles west of I-45.

Fallbrook RV Resort has been a good place for us to stay - it is conveniently located near my sister Catherine and her family, is a gated community so we feel safe, and offers all the amenities we require. The resort opened just a couple months before we got here and so everything is new and shiny. Fallbrook's list of amenities is impressive, to include security gates, self-serve dog wash, modern laundry room, fast broadband WiFi, heated pool and jacuzzi, gym, etc. The resort is nicely landscaped with oleander hedges, ornamental trees, and grassy areas. But it will be 2-3 years before this foliage takes shape and so right now Fallbrook resembles a parking lot.

Many of the RVers staying at Fallbrook are renting their campsites on a monthly basis and living in camper trailers and fifth wheels while they work temporary jobs, mostly in the oil industry. Transient workers are very common in the greater Houston area, and comprise the majority of occupants in most RV parks at any given time.

Although Fallbrook RV Resort in right in the hustle and bustle of Houston, we often hear coyotes at night and it is not unusual to see people riding horses in the grass median of the very busy road. In fact, there are a couple guys that routinely exercise their gaited horses in the field right behind us; it appears they are preparing for competition as their exercise routines are very purposeful.